`The Job Lot' takes place in a busy West Midlands job centre and focuses on the relationships among the people who work there and the people who hand around looking for work. Neurotic Trish runs the centre with an overly positive attitude, aided by aspiring artist Karl, who uses extended bathroom breaks to get through each day. There's also self-centred Angela, young and cheeky Danielle, and fraud officer George, who takes his undercover work very seriously. Protecting the staff are security guards Janette - the mother hen of the job centre - and natural charmer Paul, and regular job seekers include Graham, who is essentially unemployable, and Bryony, who is very good at creating excuses for why she can't work.